Looking at a few of my 70s bikes I have noticed most of the front end forks have a set or slight bend to them .Im sure its age...so it leads to the question is a slight bend tolerable or dangerous and if so whats the source for new forks its hard enough finding people that carry clivis end ,single eye shocks for older bikes what is the replacement source for old forks.I have heard of forks by frank but havent called but im sure he cannt be inexpencive...im sure he is a small operation so it would be more a custom fork but I do hear his are stronger .What should a fork tube cost approximatly.
Just a lil forking around
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I've seen places on the internet claiming to have/make forks tubes for freakin every bike ever made.... don't recall any of them offhand of course.
A very slight bend up by the bottom of the tree can be lived with sometimes....it's better if both tubes are bent at the same place. And bend along the leg travel is of course a no no.
Better yet...straight forks. Even a slight bend at the clamp turned sideways to keep the wheel straight will put too much stress on the leg bushings and increase stiction.
They can be straightened in a press you know, as long as the bend is up by the clamps. If I put legs on a granite surface plate and can slip more than about a .020" feeler under the bend then it's too much.
JohnnyB
A very slight bend up by the bottom of the tree can be lived with sometimes....it's better if both tubes are bent at the same place. And bend along the leg travel is of course a no no.
Better yet...straight forks. Even a slight bend at the clamp turned sideways to keep the wheel straight will put too much stress on the leg bushings and increase stiction.
They can be straightened in a press you know, as long as the bend is up by the clamps. If I put legs on a granite surface plate and can slip more than about a .020" feeler under the bend then it's too much.
JohnnyB
thats where ive seen it after it leaves the bottom tree and in unison with the other fork...just seems and looks like normal wear but to me I would have to think straight is better to keep the geometry where it was designed for .I took one pair, today; off a susuki GS550 and its about a quarter inch arch on a flat work surface .And even though the are evenly bent under the lower tree my feeling is thats not tolerable and Ill look for replacements,lol must have hit something and wasnt rode again. On closer look handle bar is bent on one side,the hieght of the tubes in the upper tree was almost 3/4 inches off ,turnsignal ground down on back side edge and the front fender bolts out of four, two diagonally apposing to each other the heads of the bolts were snapped off all telling me it dug in and put hurt to the rider enough where it sat for years till I found it . ouch!! engines runs good with 14000 on it .
Bull,
Far as I've ever seen a bent fork is never a "wear" issue, it's a crash issue. They don't bend under normal use...ever..that I've seen. A 1/4 inch is definately the result of a decent sized crash.
My wife hit the tire wall at about 40mph last year and tweaked the forks about 1/16. Got them straight again in a press.
JohnnyB
Far as I've ever seen a bent fork is never a "wear" issue, it's a crash issue. They don't bend under normal use...ever..that I've seen. A 1/4 inch is definately the result of a decent sized crash.
My wife hit the tire wall at about 40mph last year and tweaked the forks about 1/16. Got them straight again in a press.
JohnnyB
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George
Turnaround was within a few days of their estimates- 2-3 weeks depending on the time of year. I didn't have to send anything. They stuff I ordered was pretty common so adding 1" to a GT750 wasn't any trouble. The tubes are made to order.
Where is your shop?
bfd
Turnaround was within a few days of their estimates- 2-3 weeks depending on the time of year. I didn't have to send anything. They stuff I ordered was pretty common so adding 1" to a GT750 wasn't any trouble. The tubes are made to order.
Where is your shop?
bfd
bridge road in salisbury, near salisbury center on the way to new buryport on route one.bridge road and route one are the same at that point .if you follow 110 it dead ends into bridge road/ route 1 . take a right towards newbury port theres a resturant/bar on the right and then my garage.after the big ugly wooden fence first large gate is my shop. George Im there saturdays till about 1 or 2pm
Im there during the week as well just thought you would have sat off lol ...stop by any time .Im starting to help a friend shrink wrap some boats so you can call me if you in the area .www.georgescustomcars.com
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